Hose clamp



April 17, 1945 v. E. sPRousE 2,374,141

\ HosE CLAMP Filed nec. 1e, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 1 l ZIv ber; and

Patented Apr. 17, 1945 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE jg.` d 2,374,141'5gfv4 'l f u HOSE CLAMP,

`Verrier Sprouse, Ind. *y Application December 16, 18%3, Serial No. 514,501 'sciame'. loizii-ie) invention relates to a. hose clamp of that ty'pewherein there is a band for completelyv encircling the hose to have one end thereof extend in part atleast through a slot in the band to have that end engaged by a member partially encircling therouter side of the band and terminating in van ear opposing a like ear on the end of the banduwhereby the two ears may/be pulled one 'toward the other to apply tension on the encirclingfband and reduce its effective internal diameterto effect the clamping action. d 'N A primary object of the present invention is to provide an interengaging structure between rvthe .end of :the band andthel ofuter engaging member 'whereby that end and the engaging member tend to be drawn one against the other in `the,(,ilar'rnp- :ing action so as to prevent that` endfrorri. diggingA .or gouging into the encircled'hose.

A further primary object of the inventionis'to VYprovide a structure which kwill have positive engaging or interlocking members so designed 4that those members are not subjected to bend ing stress vin s uoh manner that they will tend ,to'open up and be released one from the other. .Otherimportant objects and advantages of the invention reside in the new and unique associations of the various elementsas more specically ,set forth inthe appended claims and as will become more apparent to those versed in ythe art in the 'description of one particular form of the 'invention vas lillustrated uin the` accompanying drawings, inwhich ,i Fig. 1 is a side view of a structure the invention;

Fig. 2, a view in se Figi; l

' Fig. `3, a bottom planv View with some parts being in partial section; l Fig. 4, a view in section. on theline 4,-?4 in embodying ation on the'linejo-z in Fig. 5, a view in perspective of the clampr memf Fig. 6, a view in perspective of the band,

j' Like characters of reference indicate like parts 'throughout theI several views in the drawings.

A clampband, generally designated bythe numeral I0, is formed out of any desired ilexible'metalto have the required width andlength for that size of hose to be clamped. lOrione end of this band I0 is formed an ear IIA to extend r angularly therefrom, as indicated in Fig. 2. The

vband .I0 from the base of theear II. isY bent around into circular form to form acomplete Aportiongofthe vband I0 is provided wthfa central long'itudinlalr slot vI2 and the terminal end of the band vI 0, which overlaps .the inner face of the band, extends along this slot I2 initially for a short distance to have an outwardly pressed portion'A I3 'extend `through the fslot I2. V This portion I3 is shaped in the nature Vof a hoodtohave an opening A therein from that side directed around toward the ear II. f On'each side'jof the hood I3 the band terminal portion, "generally designated by the numeral I4., extends along'the band I0 in overlapping relation' on each side of the slot I2, and between these overlalppingv'side portions there isy the depressed 'length I5, the'A Outer fiace of"which is flush with the outer face of the band I0. The hooded por'- tion I3, inthe present formY of the invention, is

formed by pressing an end of the length I5 out-` wardly'and vcentrally of the end .I4to have' a width 'whichwill be clear ofthe side edges of the slot I2- sol that this hooded portion I3 may travel freely'around through the slot I2. This hooded portion I3 has sides;l Band vCffintegrally formed with the end I4, as best indioated in Fig. 4; i

YA clamp member, generally designated by the y numeral I6, is formed'to have4 an earI'IV turned outwardly from one end toy bevof the same 'sizhe vand vshape as the ear II; this ear I1, the ym'eirber I6 is'curvedaround into arculate form to Correspond to the curvaturev of thefband II'I so that the member I6 may tsn-ugly againstrthe outrface'of the'band IIJ on the side opposite the overlapping of thebandV I0 within itself.,A This member lI6 ispreferably made out of a exible metal, such fas'the metal used in making the band l`Ill,"'so` that'the member I6.y may conform to the "changing-diameter ofwthe bandI III during the clamping operation.

TheN member* I6 is provided with a circumferential length from the base of theear "i1 when `it is positioned on the band I0. vas indicated win"-Fig. 2, to carry` the other free end around pastv the `*hood I3. This member-I6 is provided preferal'y/lyv with a number of windows I 8 yor openings therethrough', each having 'a trans,-

'verse width equal at least to the, transverse opening through the slot I2. The transversefedge of each44 window I8 on lthat side thereof toward the,

circle and haveits terminal portion Wrap around y against the inner face for a. substantiall distance,

but from the opposite edge there is Iprovided a Icircum ferentially extending Vtongue vI9 centrally positioned and having a width permitting it toy sufficient be inserted into the opening A of the hood I3. The length of the tongue I 9 in each instance is such that the edge portion of the window I8 on -each side of the tongue may be brought into abutment with the marginal edge of the side walls of 'the hood I3, as indicated in Fig. 3. Furthermore, the width of the tongue I9 is made to be such that it will iit snugly within the hood I3 so as to hold the member I6 against any appreciable lateral movement across the encircled part of the band I 0.

The purpose of providing a plurality of Windows I8 is to afford an adjustable feature wherey up until the ears I'I and II approach one another with but slight clearance therebetween, following which the bolt may be turned to permit the member I 6 to be shifted back around the outside of the band I0 to have the hooded portion I3 come through the second appearing window I8 and permit the tongue I9 in that window to beinserted within the hood I3. Thereupon the bolt 20 may again be tightened to effect a further clamping action withthe corresponding reduction of internal diameter of the encircling band I0.

Since the outer part of the hood I3 is .tied by its side walls B and Cv to the portions of the end I4 which overlap the inner faces of the bandl I0 appearing on each side of the slot I2, the hooded portion I3 cannot bend outwardly out of engagement with the tongue I3 and neither can the tongue I 9 bendoutwardly. Furthermore positive abutment is afforded between `the member I6, and the end I4 by reason of the side walls B and C of the hood I3 bearing against the transverse edge D of the window I8 appearing on each side ofthe tongue I9. Again the normal tendency of the end I4 to bend inwardly or outwardly is prevented by reason of the overlapping portions bearing against the inner faces of the band portion IYU and by reason of the depressed part of the end I4 within the slot I2 being in frictional contact with the inner face of the member I6 be` tween adjacent windows I8. The tongue I9, nt* ting within the hood I3, prevents inward bending of the end I4 so as to keep that end from gouging into the encircled hose.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the one particular form, it-isy ob vious that structural variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention andI therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims. f i

I claim:

l. A hose clamp comprising in combination a iiexible band; an outturned ear on the band; said band being circularly curved outwardly and around downwardly from said ear and thence upwardly and around to wrap within itself in overlapping relation to form a closed circle; said band having a longitudinal Islot therethrough; a free end portion of said band overlapping saidslot from the inner face of the band; a hood on said end portion entering said slot and having a transverse opening thereinto on .the end side directed toward said ear; a flexible band closing member `curved to nt around the outside of said band;

an ear on said band closing member; said closing member having at least one window therethrough; and a tongue extending from that edge of said window directed toward said ear end of the closing member to enter said hood opening; whereby pulling said closing member ear toward said band ear will cause said tongue to engage within said hood to pull said band end portion around the band to reduce the internal diameter of the band. A l

2. A hose clamp comprising iny combination a flexible band; an outturned ear on the band; said hand being circularly curved outwardly and around downwardly from said ear and thence upwardly and around to wrap within itself in overlapping relation to form a closed circle; said band having a longitudinal slot therethrough; a free end portion oiA said Aband overlapping said slot from the inner face of the band; a hood on said end portion entering said slot and having a transverse opening thereinto on the end side-directed toward said ear; a iiexible band closing member. curved to fit around the outside of said band; `an ear on said band closing member; said closing member having at least one window therethrough; and a tongue extending from that edge of said window directed toward said ear end of the closing member to enter said hood open ing; whereby pulling saidclosing member ear toward said band ear will cause said tongue to engage within said hood to pull saidbandwend portion around the b ,and to reduce the .internal diameter of the band; said tongue width being less than the width of said` window to have said window edge at each side of the tongue .abut said hood to transfer pressure thereto from said band closing member. .y 4

3.' A' hose clamp comprisngnin combination a eXibie band; an outturned ear onthe band; said band being circularly curved outwardly and around downwardly from said ear and thenceupwardly and laround'to wrap within itself in overflapping relation to form a closed circlesaid band having a longitudinal slot therethrough; afree end portion of said band overlapping said vslot from the inner face of the band; ahoodonl said end portion entering said slot and having a transverse opening thereinto on the `end side directed toward said ear; a flexible bandclosing member curved to fit around the outside of said band; an ear on said band closing member; said closing member having at least one window therethrough; and a tongue extending from that edge of said window directed toward said ear end of the closing member to enter said hood opening; whereby pulling said closing member ear toward saidv band ear will cause said tongue to engage within said hood to pull said band end portion around the band to reduce the internal diameter of the band; said hood having sides joining said band end portion holding said hood from outward bending byv said tongue.

4. A hose clamp comprising in combination a flexible band; an outturned ear on the band; said band being circularly curved outwardlyv and around downwardly from said ear and thence upwardly and around to wrap within itself in overlapping relation to form a closed circle; said band having a longitudinal' slot therethrough; a free end portion of said band overlapping; said slot from the inner face of the band; a hood on said end portion entering said slot and having a transverse opening thereinto on the end side directed toward said ear; a flexibleband closingvmember curved' to iitaround'the outside of said band;

ear on said band closing member; said closing member having at least one window therethrough; and a tongue extending from that edge of said window directed toward said ear end of the closing member to enter said hood opening; whereby pulling said closing member ear toward said band ear will cause said tongue to engage within said hood to pull said band end portion around the band to reduce the internal diameterend portion of said band overlapping said slot e Vfrom the inner face of the band; a hood on said end portion entering said slot and having a transverse opening thereinto on the end side directed toward said ear; a flexible band closing member curved to fitaround the outside of said band; an ear on said band closing member; said closing member having at least one window therethrough; and a tongue extending from that edge of said window directed toward said ear end of the closing member to enter said hood opening;

whereby pulling said closing member ear toward said band ear will cause said tongue to engage withinsaid hood to pull said band end portion around the band to reduce the internal diameter of the band; said band end portion having a length extending along said' slot beyond said hood and in sliding contact with said band c1osing member; said band end portion further having iianges extending laterally from said length to lap over vonto said band on each side of said zo slot.

VERNER E. SPROUSE. 

